Detection of Ferroptosis in Patient-Derived Tumor Models

Ferroptosis is a form of iron-dependent regulated cell death that is primarily caused by the accumulation of iron, lipid peroxidation, and subsequent rupture of the plasma membrane. The process and function of ferroptosis can be monitored in multiple ways, both in vitro and in vivo. Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) is a type of preclinical cancer model that involves transplanting human cancer tissue, usually obtained from patients undergoing surgery or biopsy, into immunodeficient mice or other animal models. It is a powerful tool for understanding drug response in cancer, as PDX models preserve the growth environment and heterogeneity of the original tumors. By analyzing ferroptosis in PDX models, we can potentially gain insights into human tumorigenesis. In this article, we summarize several assays used to analyze ferroptosis in PDX models.